Sinestro is a fascist, he wants order to the universe by wiping all that distant him out. Men, women, children. He wants to be feared by all...and he is feared by all.
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~ Hal Jordan about Sinestro.
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What should I do? Watch what the Guardians have made of there precious little universe? Scum! A thief here, a killer there! The universe is filled with unworthy life. The gnomes are doing nothing. They're weak! I'm not like that. In my world, there is no place for weakness!
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~ Sinestro to Hal Jordan.
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In blackest day, in brightest night, Beware your fears made into light, Let those who try to stop what's right, Burn like my power; Sinestro's might!
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~ Sinestro reciting his Corps' oath.
Thaal Sinestro, simply known as Sinestro, is a fictional character from DC Comics and the main antagonist of the Green Lantern franchise (alongside Anti-Monitor). He was one of the greatest and most powerful members of the Green Lantern Corps, leader of the "Sinestro Corps", and the arch-nemesis of Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern Corps and the Guardians. Sinestro is the destructive master of a group of vicious Lanterns known as the "Sinestro Corps" in order to wipe out all Green Lantern's and bring a new order to the universe. He was created by John Broome and Gil Kane and first appeared in "Green Lantern Vol. 2 #7" (August 1961).
Thaal Sinestro was born on the planet Korugar in Space Sector 1417. When he was young, he worked as an anthropologist, dedicated to restoring old ruins of long dead civilizations. One day, when Sinestro was working on one of the ruins, he saw a Green Lantern crash into the ruins. It was the Green Lantern known as Prohl Gosghota. The alien was mortally wounded and apparently dying. He wished for Sinestro to call for help, and take his Power Ring, so he could heal himself. However Sinestro refused, and coldly took the ring and watched Phrohl Gosghota die a slow and painful death. So, Sinestro was made a galactic Green Lantern. Sinestro had become protector of Sector 1417 by The Guardians, the race of immortals that had formed The Green Lantern Corps to protect all life from the forces of evil.
Overtime Sinestro became the most respected Green Lantern, and the greatest to ever wield The Power Ring that was fueled by The Green Flame of Will. However, The Guardians soon learned that Sinestro had a dark side. Sinestro had become fixated on creating and maintaining his own twisted sense of "order", and wanted to rid the universe of scum and disobedience. The other Green Lantern's and The Guardians were also shocked by Sinestro's merciless and cruel tactics to get information. These included ruthless torture of criminals, and some necessary murder. The Guardians would often correct him of his own ruthlessness, but he would speak them out as fools. Eventually, his twisted sense of justice led him to conquer Korugar and rule over it as a dictator, though he kept this a secret from the Guardians.
When Abin-Sur died and his Power Ring was given to Earth test pilot Hal Jordan, the Guardians asked Sinestro to become his mentor and train the new recruit. From the beginning, Sinestro had little tolerance for his pupil and his tactics. While Hal considered all life sacred, including Earth's criminals, Sinestro was fixated on wiping them from existence. Once Hal's basic training was complete, he continued his duties as a Lantern while maintaining his iron grip on Korugar. However, Hal eventually found out about his conquest of his planet and, sickened by Sinestro's abuse of his Green Lantern powers, led a group of rebels in successful wresting control of the planet away from him.
Brought before the Guardians on the Green Lantern's base world of Oa, Sinestro was stripped of his Power Ring and banished to the Anti-Matter world of Qward. Embittered over his apparent 'betrayal', Sinestro sought revenge against Hal, the Guardians, and the Green Lantern Corp. Fashioning himself a new Power Ring based on the Yellow Flame of Fear, he escaped Qward and launched an attack on Oa but was defeated by Hal, whose will was strong enough to overpower Sinestro's fear.
I demand your power, Entity! And I will finally prove to the universe that I am the greatest Lantern of ALL!
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~ Sinestro
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You know what needs to happen. They must be exterminated.
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~ Sinestro
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You will die screaming!
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~ Sinestro clash in Injustice
Trivia
Sinestro also appeared as the main antagonist of the Duck Dodgers episode, The Green Loontern. In this version, he was voiced by John de Lancie, who also voiced Discord and Q. In The Batman, he is voiced by the late Miguel Ferrer who also voiced Shan Yu in Mulan.